The friends of my friends are my friends
The friends of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of my enemies are my friends

(I would like not to have to repeat it to you)

On Civil War

The friends of the friends of my friends are my friends
The friends of the friends of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of my friends are my friends
The friends of the enemies of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the enemies of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of my enemies are my friends

(I would not like to have to repeat it to you)

On Civil War

The friends of the friends of the friends of my friends are my friends
The friends of the friends of the friends of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the enemies of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the friends of the enemies of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the friends of the enemies of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the enemies of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the friends of my friends are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the friends of my enemies are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the enemies of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the friends of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the friends of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the enemies of my friends are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the enemies of my friends are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the friends of my friends are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the enemies of my enemies are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the friends of my enemies are my friends

(I would like to have not to repeat it to you)

On Civil War

The friends of the friends of the friends of the friends of my friends
are my friends
The friends of the friends of the friends of the friends of my enemies
are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the enemies of the enemies of my enemies
are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the enemies of the enemies of my friends
are my friends
The friends of the friends of the friends of the enemies of my enemies
are my friends
The friends of the friends of the enemies of the enemies of my enemies
are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the enemies of the friends of my friends
are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the friends of the friends of my friends
are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the enemies of the enemies of my enemies
are my friends
The friends of the friends of the enemies of the friends of my friends
are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the friends of the friends of my friends
are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the enemies of the friends of my enemies
are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the friends of the enemies of my enemies
are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the friends of the enemies of my friends
are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the friends of the friends of my enemies
are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the friends of the enemies of my enemies
are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the friends of the enemies of my friends
are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the enemies of the enemies of my friends
are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the enemies of the enemies of my friends
are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the enemies of the friends of my friends
are my friends
The friends of the enemies of the enemies of the friends of my enemies
are my enemies
The enemies of the enemies of the enemies of the friends of my enemies
are my friends
The friends of the friends of the friends of the enemies of my friends
are my enemies
The enemies of the friends of the friends of the friends of my enemies
are my friends
The friends of the friends of the friends of the enemies of my friends
are my enemies

Sherry Brennan, poet and translator, lives and works in New York.
Her book of poetry, On poems and their antecedents, is just out (subpress),
as is her translation of Espitallier's Fantasy Butcher (Duration Press).
Earlier chapbooks include Taken, again today and The Resemblances. She
has published widely in journals such as Chain, How(ever), New American
Writing and raddle moon. Recent essays can be found in African American
Review and the online journal Jacket.